Senate vote for expanded gambling shows power of converts

You can call them flip-floppers, open minded, or realists, but an expanded gambling bill would not have passed the state Senate on Thursday without the help of a few legislators who have changed their mind on the issue.

The 16-8 vote in favor of one high-end casino in the state was the largest voting margin ever for the issue generally in the Senate.

In floor speeches, a number of Senators discussed their conversion story for why they are now backing an expanded gambling proposal after having opposed those efforts in years and votes in the past.

Without the votes of State Sens. David Boutin, R-Hooksett, Molly Kelly, D-Keene, Sylvia Larsen, D-Concord, and David Water, D-Dover, this gambling bill would have died in the Senate with a 12-12 tie.

Instead, the issue now continues to the House, where a number of experts say more conversations are essential to the measure passing there.

No one politically needs expanded gambling to pass more than freshman Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan. Hassan partially funded part of her proposed two-year state budget on $80 million in gambling licensing fees that are currently illegal. Prominent House Democrats who opposed gambling are preparing a different budget that does not include that $80 million.

Hassan and gambling supporters will hope that some members of the House who have long opposed gambling will come to the same conclusion some of these Senators did who changed their minds. Boutin doesn't like expanded gambling, but sees it as a way to repair roads. Woods has opposed expanded gambling, but can see how gambling revenues could help fun the university system where he teaches. Kelly also is personally opposed to the concept of casinos, but sees it as a way to pay for a budget she agrees with.

Without these converts, the bill would not have passed the Senate on Thursday. Without more converts, expanded gambling looks to have no chance in the House.